Despite a brief period of ambiguity wrought by budget-jousting among lawmakers in Congress, the Army's new and improved sniper rifle is alive and well.

Heckler & Koch showed off its M110A1 7.62 mm semi-automatic sniper rifle, selected for the Army's Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS) program on the floor of the Association of the U.S. Army's annual conference and exposition in Washington this week, a first up-close-and-personal look at the lightweight rifle.

The M1101A1 HK CSASS is a lightweight version of H&K's G28E sniper rifle, one of which was also on display at the company's AUSA spread. The company got to work after Army Contracting Command awarded the gun manufacturer a $44.5 million contract in 2016 for a version with a baffle-less OSS suppressor.

At just 16 inches long and 8.7 pounds with an empty magazine, the HK certainly meets the Army's CSASS requirements size and weight requirements. It boasts a Schmidt & Bender 3-20X50 PMII Ultra Short Scope for improved optics and accuracy.

And with a similar look and feel to the standard M4 and M16 assault rifles, the M1101 will also be familiar to infantry soldiers who may end up wielding it downrange: In September, the branch announced plans to field a modified version specifically for regular infantrymen serving in a designated marksman role.